Strawberry plant named ‘Florida Beauty’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant ( Fragaria  X  ananassa ), which originated from seed produced by a hand-pollinated cross between AU 2010-119 and ‘Florida Radiance’. The new strawberry plant, named ‘Florida Beauty’, is distinguished by its compact growth habit; steady yield; fruit that are exceptionally and consistently well-shaped, bright medium-red, and having an exceptional, balanced flavor when grown in west central Florida or other areas that have a subtropical climate similar to that of west central Florida.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria Xananassa Duchesne.

Variety denomination: ‘Florida Beauty’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofstrawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duchesne) named ‘Florida Beauty’. Thisnew strawberry plant is distinguished by its compact growth habit andability to produce steady yields of fruit that are consistently shapedand have exceptional flavor when grown in west central Florida. Asexualpropagation was performed at Balm, Fla. where the selection was made andplants were tested. Contrast is made to ‘Florida Radiance’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 20,363) and ‘Florida127’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,574),currently the dominant varieties in Hillsborough County, Fla., forreliable description. This new variety is a promising candidate forcommercial success because it can be planted earlier than othervarieties due to its compact plant habit and because it producesflavorful fruit that are evenly colored and consistently shaped duringthe entire Florida market window.

This strawberry plant (genotype) originated in a strawberry breedingplot in Balm, Fla. The seed parent was AU 2010-119, an unreleasedbreeding selection with the ability to produce fruit with excellentflavor and shape. The pollen parent was ‘Florida Radiance’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 20,363), a strawberry cultivar with high early yields, steadyyield pattern, and low vegetative vigor. The seeds resulting from thecontrolled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse, and theresulting seedlings were planted and allowed to produce daughter plantsby asexual propagation (i.e. by runners). Two daughter plants from eachseedling were transplanted to raised beds, where they fruited. ‘FloridaBeauty’ (as represented by two daughter plants from the originalseedling) exhibited compact plant habit and steady yields ofconsistently shaped fruit, and therefore was selected for furtherevaluation. ‘Florida Beauty’ was selection number 5 of the 121^(st)cross in the 2012-2013 seedling trial, and thus was given the breedingtrial designation of FL 12.121-5. ‘Florida Beauty’ has been asexuallypropagated annually by runners, and further test plantings haveestablished that the vegetative and fruit characteristics of thepropagules are identical to the initial daughter plants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Florida Beauty’, when grown in a subtropical fall and winter climate,is set apart from all other strawberry plants by a combination of thefollowing characteristics: compact growth habit; steady yield; and fruitthat are exceptionally and consistently well-shaped, bright medium-red,and have an exceptional balanced flavor.

‘Florida Beauty’ plants can be unambiguously distinguished from plantsof its seed parent AU 2010-119. For instance, the size of the fruitproduced by ‘Florida Beauty’ plants is less variable over the entirefruiting season than the size of the fruit produced by AU 2010-119plants. Further, during the period of fruit development and ripening,the petals of ‘Florida Beauty’ plants are shed more quickly than thoseof plants AU 2010-119 plants. By shedding its petals sooner, lessmoisture is trapped on the surface of the fruit produced by ‘FloridaBeauty’ plants than the fruit produced by AU 2010-119 plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The new strawberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs.

FIG. 1 shows a typical specimen of a 5-month-old plant and fruit as seenin February, 2016, in west central Florida. FIGS. 2-5 show typicalinflorescence and fruit specimens that were produced by plants of theclaimed variety that were grown under summer greenhouse conditions thatwere significantly warmer than growth conditions in west central Floridaduring the optimum October through mid-March fruit production window of‘Florida Beauty’. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1—Shows whole plants, including leaves, inflorescences, and fruitat varying stages of ripeness.

FIG. 2—Shows a close-up of the underside of an inflorescence.

FIG. 3—Shows a close-up of a fruit that was produced by a plant of theclaimed variety that was grown under summer greenhouse conditions.

FIG. 4—Shows a close-up of a transverse cross section of a fruit thatwas produced by a plant of the claimed variety that was grown undersummer greenhouse conditions.

FIG. 5—Shows a close-up of a longitudinal cross section of a fruit thatwas produced by a plant of the claimed variety that was grown undersummer greenhouse conditions.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following botanical description is that of plants of the claimedvariety grown under the ecological conditions (warm days, cool nights)prevailing in Balm, Fla., during the winter production season. Colorsare objectively described using the L*a*b* color scale with acolorimeter.

PHENOTYPIC DESCRIPTION OF FRAGARIA X ANANASSA DUCHESNE (‘FLORIDABEAUTY’)

-   Plant:    -   -   Average height.—15 cm.        -   Average width.—25 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Compact, semi-spreading plant that is not            overly dense.        -   Number of crowns/plant.—4 to 7 depending on seasonal            conditions.        -   Vigor.—Low to Medium.-   Leaf:    -   -   Overall description.—Pinnately compound with three leaflets.        -   Variegation.—Absent.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—15.5 cm.        -   Average diameter.—2.5 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Light to medium.        -   Pubescence density.—Moderate to sparse.        -   Pose of hairs.—Perpendicular.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Anthocyanin.—Minimal to absent.        -   Color.—Medium-light green (L*=58.9, a*=−13.3, b*=32.1).-   Petiolule:    -   -   Length.—Terminal leaflet 8 mm; lateral leaflets, 5 mm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.-   Stipule:    -   -   Length.—33 mm.        -   Width.—18 mm along base of petiole attachment.        -   Anthocyanin.—Slight to absent.        -   Color.—Light green (L*=58.1, a*=−17.2, b*=13.0).-   Terminal leaflet:    -   -   Average length.—82 mm.        -   Average breadth.—69 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.19.        -   Shape in cross section.—Concave.        -   Color, upper surface.—Medium-light green (L*=33.2, a*=−11.6,            b*=14.5).        -   Color, lower surface.—Light green (L*=54.4, a*=−12.9,            b*=20.2).        -   Glossiness.—Slight gloss.        -   Base shape.—Cuneate to slightly rounded.        -   Apex descriptor.—Rounded.        -   Pubescence density.—Sparse.        -   Texture.—Moderately smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.-   Secondary leaflets:    -   -   Average length.—78 mm.        -   Average breadth.—80 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—0.96.        -   Shape in cross section.—Concave.        -   Color, upper surface.—Medium-light green (L*=33.7, a*=−11.7,            b*=14.8).        -   Color, lower surface.—Light green (L*=54.4, a*=−12.9,            b*=20.2).        -   Glossiness.—Slight gloss.        -   Base shape.—Oblique rounded.        -   Apex descriptor.—Obtuse.        -   Pubescence density.—Sparse.        -   Texture.—Moderately smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.-   Leaflet margins: Crenate, with an average of 22 serrations per    terminal leaflet and 22 per secondary leaflet.-   Stolons:    -   -   Number of daughter plants.—20-30 depending on environmental            conditions.        -   Anthocyanin.—Variable; light to moderate.        -   Thickness.—2-3 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Light to moderate.        -   Anthocyanin.—Present.        -   Color.—Light green with occasional anthocyanin (L*=47.2,            a*=−13.7, b*=24.7).-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time of flowering.—Full remontancy.        -   Position relative to canopy.—Flowers open at or below canopy            height.        -   Branching of the inflorescence.—At or very close to the            crown.        -   Number of sepals per flower.—8-16.-   Petals:    -   -   Number.—5 to 6.        -   Length.—12 mm.        -   Width.—12 mm.        -   Mean diameter of the corolla (i.e. the petals            collectively).—23.3 mm.        -   Number of stamens.—Average of 23.        -   Flower arrangement of petals.—Free.        -   Color, upper surface.—White (L*=88.3, a*=−1.2, b*=5.3).        -   Color, lower surface.—White (L*=83.4, a*=−1.2, b*=6.3).-   Calyx:    -   -   Diameter of calyx relative to corolla.—The diameter of the            calyx is 25% greater than the diameter of the corolla.        -   Color.—Medium green (L*=44.8, a*=−16.1, b*=26.5).        -   Position of attachment.—Raised.        -   Diameter.—23-51 mm.        -   Level of adherence.—Strong.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Attached to mature primary fruit.—9.5 to 13 cm long            depending on time of season. At peak production, the plant            will have several crowns, each producing a truss, and each            truss will have 3-7 pedicels.        -   Color.—Medium green (L*=44.4, a*=−12.8, b*=23.8).-   Peduncle: Inflorescences branch very close to the crown, rendering    the peduncle rarely visible.    -   -   Anthocyanin.—Present.-   Fruit:    -   -   Mean fruit weight.—Slightly less than ‘Florida Radiance’            (Table 1).        -   Shape.—Medium conical to cordate in shape.        -   Diameter.—24-42 mm.        -   Weight, primary fruit.—27-37 g.        -   Weight, secondary and tertiary fruit.—10-23 g.        -   Fruit flavor.—Usually sweeter than ‘Florida Radiance’ and            having strawberry flavor never lower than ‘Florida Radiance’            and usually not different from ‘Florida127’ which is the            current commercial flavor standard in Florida (Table 2).        -   Soluble solids content.—10.3% (Harvested February, 2015,            Balm, Fla.).        -   Titratable acidity.—0.95% (Harvested February, 2015, Balm,            Fla.).        -   Fruit cavity.—Rare.        -   Fruit core color.—Light to medium red (L*=31.8, a*=30.9,            b*=23.7).        -   Achenes.—Slightly sunken, giving the fruit a smooth            appearance.        -   Number of achenes per fruit.—90-280.        -   Achene weight.—0.78 mg.        -   Width of the band without achenes.—5-12 mm.        -   External fruit color.—Glossy red (a*=39.1).        -   Internal fruit color.—Medium red (a*=17.4).        -   Evenness of color.—Consistently even.        -   Flesh and skin firmness at full ripe stage.—Moderately firm.        -   Rain damage.—More resistant to cracking of the fruit by rain            than ‘Florida127’ and similar to ‘Florida Radiance’.        -   Difference in shape between primary and secondary            fruit.—Conic to globose.-   Total yield: Not different from ‘Florida127’ in 2015-16 (a season    with above-average temperatures, to which ‘Florida Beauty’ is best    adapted at typical planting dates) but lower than ‘Florida127’ and    ‘Florida Radiance’ in 2014-15 (a cooler season) (Table 1).-   Preferred planting period: September 25^(th) to October 5^(th) in    west-central Florida.-   Nursery performance: ‘Florida Beauty’ is expected to perform well in    nursery situations due to the production of a moderate number of    runners, which result in sturdy, compact daughter plants. This is in    contrast to ‘Florida Radiance’, whose daughter plants have weak    petioles that are susceptible to breakage during digging and    handling.-   Disease resistance: ‘Florida Beauty’ is moderately susceptible to    Botrytis fruit rot (caused by Botrytis cinerea), similar to ‘Florida    Radiance’. ‘Florida Beauty’ is moderately resistant to anthracnose    fruit rot (caused by Colletotrichum acutatum).

TABLE 1 Performance of three strawberry genotypes during the 2014-15 and2015-16 seasons in Balm, Florida Marketable yield (g/plant) CultivarNovember December January February 2014-15 F. Beauty 7.4 a 55.5 b 149.0b 180.4 b Florida127 0.0 b 95.8 a 212.7 a 288.4 a F. Radiance 1.6 b 60.5b 152.2 b 327.0 a 2015-16 F. Beauty 39.6 a^(y) 87.5 a 68.9 a 187.7 aFlorida127 16.7 b 75.3 a 38.2 b 139.4 a Marketable yield (g/plant)Cultivar March Total Wt/fruit (g)^(z) 2014-15 F. Beauty 209.6 a 601.3 b22.3 c Florida127 206.6 a 803.6 a 30.8 a F. Radiance 210.9 a 749.7 a25.0 b 2015-16 F. Beauty 129.3 a 490.2 a 18.9 b Florida127 129.4 a 411.9a 21.5 a ^(z)Mean fruit weight was determined by dividing totalmarketable fruit yield per plot by total marketable fruit number perplot. ^(y)Means are based on four replications of 10 plants each in2014-15 and on five replications of 10 plants each in the other seasons.Means separation within columns is by Tukey's HSD test, P < 0.05. Plantsof ‘Florida Radiance’ were not available for the 2015-16 trial

TABLE 2 Trained sensory panel ratings from five dates over two harvestseasons Straw- Firm- Sweet- Sour- berry Green Cultivar ness ness nessflavor flavor January 2015 F. Beauty 5.7 a^(z) 5.9 a 4.5 a 5.1 a 1.8 aFlorida127 5.6 a 5.2 a 4.7 a 4.4 a 1.8 a F. Radiance 4.9 a 4.9 a 4.5 a4.1 a 1.6 a February 2015 F. Beauty 6.6 a 5.2 a 4.8 a 4.3 ab 2.6 aFlorida127 5.5 a 5.4 a 4.2 a 4.8 a 1.9 a F. Radiance 5.6 a 3.9 b 5.0 a3.6 b 2.4 a March 2015 F. Beauty 3.6 b 4.3 a 4.5 a 3.9 a 1.8 aFlorida127 4.5 b 5.0 a 4.5 a 4.3 a 1.8 a F. Radiance 5.6 a 3.1 b 4.7 a3.0 b 2.5 a February 2016 F. Beauty 5.1 a 5.4 a 5.4 a 4.1 a 2.2 aFlorida127 4.7 ab 5.2 a 4.8 a 4.1 a 2.1 a F. Radiance 4.0 b 4.8 a 5.4 a4.1 a 2.2 a March 2016 F. Beauty 5.3 a 3.9 a 6.3 a 3.8 a 2.6 bFlorida127 5.4 a 4.7 a 5.0 b 3.6 a 2.0 b F. Radiance 5.9 a 2.8 b 6.9 a2.0 b 4.0 a ^(z)Mean separations are within harvest dates and withincolumns by Tukey's HSD test, P ≤ 0.05.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant asillustrated and described herein, characterized by: (1) a compact growthhabit; (2) steady yield; and (3) fruit that are exceptionally andconsistently well-shaped, bright red in color and having an exceptional,balanced flavor when grown in west central Florida.